Taming The Billionaire's First-Born

CHAPTER NINE

When I was a kid, my mom told me that being overly dependent on our parents, to them, looked unpleasant. My parents are very conservative. They taught me how to be independent, even though I was still a minor at that time. They taught me that life does not revolve around being dependent on them. I should value the hard work. I should not depend on them. I should be responsible at a very young age. They taught me to become independent, and that's why I'm here.

I thought they didn't want a child who relies on their income instead of working their a*s off. I thought they didn't want us to get used to the income they provide. I thought they wanted us to learn?

Hearing those words coming out of her mouth made me a bit sullen. I mean, how did she get me to work at such a young age while my siblings were just continuing to study? They taught me to be independent when I was a kid, but seeing her stay here at home because she’s afraid to leave my siblings made me a bit mad.

I'm not actually mad. I'm just feeling a little sullen.

I feel like I'm not her real child. I feel like they just adopted me. I feel like they just took me from the garbage because they felt pity for me.

Shouldn't a mother treat her child equally? Why do I feel like her love for me isn't fair? Why do I feel like I'm forcing her to accept me in this family?

I feel like I'm forcing myself on their family even though I know that I don't belong to them.

"How will they learn to be independent and stand on their own two feet if you continue that?" I asked.

Even though I felt so mad, I decided to restrain myself from throwing hurtful words against her. I had no right to scold her for being unfair. I want to confront her, but it seems like it's not appropriate for our conversation. I know that she only wants what's best for me, so even though she already knew that I wouldn’t allow it, she did everything just to make me agree to what she wanted.

I feel like she wants me out of this house. Am I that weird in their eyes?

I know that it sounds weird. Not for being selfish, but... can I call it unfair? because it's too unfair for me.

"They're young—"

"I was also young when I started working, mom," I said, almost in a whisper while looking at my plate.

I saw she was surprised at what I said, but instead of turning to look at her, I decided to stare at the plate that I couldn't even touch.

"I never heard from you the word "no" when I was a kid back then. When I told you before that I wanted to help you sell your goods in the market, you said nothing but go on, and that's good," I said. She continued to listen to my remenisce-turned-into-rant. "I've never heard from you that you don't agree with me, and I'm too young to work at that time. In fact, I can call it "child labor."

"Solanna..."

"Can you please tell me the truth, mom?" I asked before I smiled at her.

Her furrowed brows gradually disappeared because of what I asked. I smiled painfully at her. Even though it was so hard for me, I still managed to smile genuinely at her. I felt the tears that gradually pooled in the corner of my eyes while looking at her.

Why do I become emotional now in front of her just because of superficial words?

I did everything just to retrain myself from crying, even though it’s too painful for me to have this kind of conversation.

I sighed deeply before I asked, "Am I adopted?"

"No!" she said. I watched her stand up from her seat before she hurriedly walked towards my side and gave me a tight hug. "I'm sorry if that's how I made you feel before. I thought you just wanted to help me, so I let you work even though you were young at that time. Solanna, you just don't know how thankful I was because God gave you to me, to us." I smiled painfully while listening to her explanation now. "I'm sorry for what I did to you. I'm sorry if that's how you feel. I know that it's too late for me to tell you this, but let me make up for it. Let me compensate for my shortcomings, hija."

When she saw the tears flooding my cheeks, that’s when she decided to wipe them for me. I chuckled because of what she did, so I wasn't surprised when she hugged me again.

"You don't need to compensate me, mom," I said. "Your explanation is enough for me."

Even though years have already passed and I just asked her regarding that matter now, somehow I can now breath and forget about my rants. At least I allowed myself to hear an explanation from her. All my life, I thought I was just adopted because she wouldn't tolerate her treatment of me, but when I heard her explanation regarding that matter, that's when I patched everything up.

Her love for me and for my siblings is fair. I am the only one who thinks that the love she shows me is not equal. She told me that she was proud because she had a child like me. A daughter like me who doesn't have to charge anything because I'm the one who does it voluntarily.

A daughter like me who loves to help other people even though they cause problems for me.

"I'm sorry, Solanna! I didn't mean what happened," Julianne said when she accidentally spilled coffee on the shirt I was wearing.

I almost jumped a while ago when the tray she was holding slipped on me. She accidentally spilled hot coffee on my chest. Until now, I still feel the heat because of what she did, but nothing will happen if I complain, right?

"That's okay. It was all an accident," I said while still busy wiping my neck.

Accident? Who am I kidding? She accidentally dropped the tray right in front of me?

Yes, I won't deny that I'm a hypocrite person sometimes, but I'm not a fool to think that what she did a while ago was an accident. That's the stupidest thing I can do.

This is the fifth time. Yes, the fifth time that she did this to me this month. I feel like Joy and Juliian do this intentionally. And do you know what was the dumbest thing I ever did? They do it purposely, away from CCTVs.

Some of the employees who used to bully me have noticed what they are doing. I don't know if Joy and Julianne are their accomplices, but I'm sure that if the two are doing something, I know that they have nothing to do with it. Maybe they just distanced themselves because they don't want to help me and they don't want to get involved in the mess I created, but then again, there's nothing wrong if they help me, right?

I can still feel the heat from the coffee Julianne had poured for me. She smiled at me when I smiled genuinely at her, and when she returned to the counter, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes because of so much annoyance.

I did nothing wrong against them. I never ignore them, but why do I feel like they intentionally do this to me?

Do they like Spencer and are they mad at me because we’re close to each other? If they like Spencer, why don't they mess with him? Do they think they can fire me just because of their stupid actions? Of course, never! Why would I quit my job? I'm not afraid of them! Even if they joined their forces, I don’t care!

"What happened to your uniform?" Spencer asked when he saw the stains on my shirt. I saw how his brows furrowed when our eyes met each other. "Did my employees bully you again?"

"No," I said, before I smiled at him.

From my peripheral vision, I saw Joy secretly looking at us. I did everything so that I would not look in her direction. My mind told me that I should report them to Spencer, but my heart told me to retrain myself and keep everything going on. I know that they won't be mad at me for long if I ever let them.

I believe that everything passes away. No matter how deeply someone is upset with you, the time will come and the wound you gave them will also heal, so... I decided not to report them.

"The tray I was holding earlier slipped out of my hand. I accidentally spilled the coffee on my chest," I said.

He looked annoyed while looking at my neck. I know that its redness is already visible now, unlike before.

"You're not clumsy, Solanna. I know you," he said before he crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll review the CCTVs later, and when I find out that you're lying, then I'll fire you."

I pursed my lips because of what he said, but it seemed like he was serious about what he said.

"I don't believe you," I said, but he just smirked at me. "You can't do that."

"Then try me," he said. He crossed his arms while looking at me from head to toe. "You don't know me."

I wanted to kick his stomach this time, but it seems like it's not appropriate because many people will see what I will do, especially since we are here now at the counter and some customers might hear the discussion between the two of us.

I scoffed because of what he said, so I wasn't surprised when he chuckled and brushed my hair, as if I looked like a child in his eyes.

"I'll fetch you tonight, so wait for me to pick you up after your duty."

I smiled and nodded at him. I raised my hand and saluted him like a soldier. "Yes, sir!"

I watched him walk out of the coffee shop. I slowly shook my head while the smile still remained on my lips as I was busy unloading the counter top. I felt someone walked in front of me. I raised my head to look at who it was, and my eyes widened a bit when I recognized his face.

He smiled at me and turned to the menu at the top of the counter. "I want some flat white. Less sugar and please serve it at my table," he said.

I am a barista and there are waiters for his request. But then, who am I to reject his request? Mayden told me that whatever our customer requested, I should follow it. Of course, I won't follow if it's against my rights, but then it seems like I won't lose anything if I follow him this time. He looks cute though, so... okay.

Julianne walked closer to me while pursing her lips. Her face was a bit red and she looked straight at the table of the man who came here. Based on her looks, it seems like I already know what she meant and why she approached me this time.

"That man looks cute. What did he order?" she asked while biting her lower lips.

I sighed heavily before I laid down the order for that man a while ago. "He ordered flat white and requested for me to deliver it to his table."

"I'll take it for him!"

"But he told me that—"

Even before I could finish my sentence, Julianne hurriedly took the tray from my hand and she delivered the coffee to that man instead of me. I watched her talk to that man. They were a little far away from me, but I can clearly see the expressions on her face as she spoke to him.

The man turned to look at me, which made my face redden a bit before I averted my gaze. Julianne didn't stay at his table that much. I was a bit surprised that Julianne returned to the counter while holding the cup of coffee and that man didn't seem to take it from her.

Her face looked awful. She looked annoyed when she saw that I was staring at her now. She placed the tray in front of me.

"He wants me to tell you that you are the one he wants to serve coffee for him, not me," she said before she rolled her eyes at me and entered the counter where I was.

I sighed heavily before I decided to pick up the tray and, just like what she said, I delivered his order to the table where he was.

He greeted me with a smile that crept on his lips, which I reciprocated.

He said, "Your coworker told me that you are not allowed to serve coffee."

"Uhm. Yes. It looks like that."

"But based on what she did a while ago, it seems like she's just lying," he added before he shrugged.

I did not respond to what he said. Instead of having a conversation with him, I decided to place the tray in front of his table and serve him the flat white he ordered. His eyes were fixed on the cup I served.

"Enjoy your coffee, Sir."

I decided to turn my back on him, but even before I could step away from him, he called me once again.

I had no choice but to turn to look at him once again while trying to create a smile on my face, even though I already knew that the smile I showed him was not genuine.

"I just wanted to ask some questions, Miss..." He slowly turned to look at the nameplate I was wearing. "Miss Solanna. I'm interested in your personality."

He looks friendly, but why do I feel like I was offended by what he said?

Is he interested in me? Why and for what reason?